Dear friends:
At the end of 2024, the Houston Public Library Foundation began our “By the Numbers” quarterly email to update you on YOUR impact on the Houston Public Library.
In short: NUMBERS ARE UP!
The data presented here represents the current Fiscal Year (July 2024-present) and is compared to the previous Fiscal Year to-date (July 2023-April 2024). The data is clear: more and more Houstonians are making greater use of library resources!
We hope that these updates highlight the real difference YOU make in the Houston community.
6,693,536
Circulation year-to-date is currently OVER ONE MILLION items over where it was in April of 2024! Physical, digital and audio circulations have continually seen significant growth in usage.
1,623,905
Compared to April 2024, roughly 50,000 more people have visited the Houston Public Library in person for learning resources, workshops, programs, and events.
68,380
Nearly 70,000 children have attended Houston Public Library programs this year, with over 40% of participants engaging directly with literacy programs designed to encourage lifelong learning.
19,966
A record number of Houstonians have visited one of the library’s 4 TECHLinks–producing videos, podcasts, embroidery, 3D printing, recording music, and building their businesses. This represents a 26.7% increase over FY24.
2,514
Genealogical and family history research programs continue to be one of the most popular programs run by the Houston Public Library, with most of these programs being run at the Family History Research Center.